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And by employment status, people who were employed had the highest number at 252.

The latest data, published today by the Chief Coroner, Judge Deborah Marshall, contains the provisional tallies from 2007/08 to 2015/16.

The coroners' statistics are published more quickly than the Ministry of Health's and can vary from them because they can contain some cases of suspected suicide which on inquiry may be found to be self-inflicted deaths but without the intention to commit suicide.

Judge Marshall interpreted the suicide death rate as having remained consistent and said it showed New Zealand still had a long way to go in turning around the unacceptably high toll of suicide.

The Green Party said the high rate of suicides should prompt the Government urgently to establish a national inquiry into mental health services.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman maintains such an inquiry is not needed.

Coleman said the suicide rate, although consistent in recent years, remained too high. He noted DHBs had developed suicide prevention plans last year as part of a national suicide prevention action plan supported by $25 million over four years from the Government.

The Mental Health Foundation said it is deeply saddened by the provisional suicide statistics.

"We send our deepest condolences to the families, whānau, colleagues and friends who have lost someone they loved to suicide," said chief executive Shaun Robinson.

"It's not uncommon for people who feel suicidal to believe their loved ones would be happier without them, that they are a burden to their families. Today it's important to acknowledge that this is profoundly untrue."

Suicide is preventable, he said.

"We know that some people have lost hope that things can get better - too many of us have come to accept the way things are for our most vulnerable people and to believe that things cannot change."

Factors that contribute to people feeling suicidal include experiencing depression or other mental health problems, poverty, family violence, abusing substances such as drugs or alcohol and not being able to access support to cope with distress.

"To prevent suicide in New Zealand, we must take a hard look at these factors and work to address them."

Having suicidal thoughts or feelings is not uncommon. Many people will think of suicide at some time in their lives, and the vast majority will recover.

"In most cases friends, whānau, workmates and neighbours will provide support along with professional services, and people will recover and live well.

District talliesBy health district, Auckland, with 50 deaths had the third highest number of suicides in 2015/16 - after Canterbury and Waikato - followed by Waitemata (49), Counties Manukau (48) and the Southern (Otago-Southland) district on 43.

In the preceding three years, the highest and second-highest tallies oscillated between Waitemata and Canterbury, which on 2013 Census data had the largest populations, of 525,000 and 482,000 respectively. Waikato had 359,000.

The statistics• 579 people died by suicide in the 2015/16 year.• 564 in 2014/15• Female suicides increased by 34• Male suicides reduced by 19• 25-29-year-old age group recorded highest number (66)• Figures include 8 people aged between 10-14 and 16 aged 75-79• Māori suicides down by one, to129• Canterbury had highest number, 78• Waikato was second with 55• People who were employed had highest number at 252